New Delhi: Following directions from Delhi High Court, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has started making its baraat ghars and community halls available as night shelters until March 15. NDMC vice-chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the arrangement was being made in coordination with Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (Dusib), a Delhi govt agency. Initially, three baraat ghars at Kidwai Nagar, Laxmi Bai Nagar and Mandir Marg were made fully functional as night shelters and people have already started shifting there. At Kidwai Nagar, over 50 beds were provided by Dusib for patients and their attendants coming for treatment at hospitals such as AIIMS, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Lady Hardinge Hospital.“The NDMC community hall at Kidwai Nagar is also being used to shelter homeless people from the AIIMS subway and surrounding areas,” said Chahal. NDMC has arranged mobile toilets and water tankers at the AIIMS rain basera, an official said.The council has 12 community centres and nine baraat ghars. Officials said that, depending on requirements, more facilities can be temporarily added or revamped as night shelters.Chahal clarified that only those baraat ghars and community halls which didn’t have prior booki-ngs were being used as night shelters “so that the public doesn’t face any inconvenience”.Under the current arrangement, NDMC is providing space, water and electricity while DUSIB is supplying beds and other essential items. “The objective is to protect needy people from cold and rain, ensuring they are not forced to live in the open and are provided with safe and dignified shelter,” Chahal said.During a meeting of senior NDMC officials on Saturday, a decision was taken to review arrangements. The council has constituted a special team of officers and other staff to regularly monitor coordination, facilities and overall arrangements at the shelters so that beneficiaries do not face any inconvenience.
